The UK's Islamophobia: Media's Role in Shaping Attitudes

This research paper examines Islamophobia in the UK, focusing on the British media's influence on public perception of Islam and Muslims. It provides an overview of the research, background information, rationale, research aims, objectives, and questions. The paper explores the concept of Islamophobia, the role of British media in relation to it, and the media's impact on forming attitudes towards Islam and Muslims. The methodology section outlines the research approach, design, and methods employed, including the use of a descriptive research design and an epistemological research philosophy. The literature review delves into the definition of Islamophobia, its presence in the UK, and the negative portrayals of Muslims in the media. Ethical considerations and references are also included to ensure a comprehensive and well-supported analysis of the subject matter. The paper highlights the significance of understanding the media's role in shaping societal attitudes and contributing to Islamophobia in the UK.

Research Paper

Table of Contents
TOPIC:.............................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Overview of Research.................................................................................................................1
Background of research...............................................................................................................1
Rationale.....................................................................................................................................1
Research Aim..............................................................................................................................2
Research Objectives....................................................................................................................2
Research Questions.....................................................................................................................2
Research framework....................................................................................................................2
Literature Review.............................................................................................................................3
Concept of Islamophobia in the UK............................................................................................3
Role of the British media towards Islamophobia in the UK.......................................................3
Role of British Media in forming attitudes towards Islam and Muslims....................................4
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.....................................................................................................5
ETHICAL ISSUES..........................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

TOPIC:
Islamophobia in the UK and the role of the British media in forming attitudes towards
Islam and Muslims.
INTRODUCTION
Overview of Research
Islamophobia refers to the fear of terrorist attacks of Muslims as geo- political force. Due
to terrorist attacks, there is fear, anxiety, hatred among people for Islam religion. As in terrorist
attach there are some people are involved, so they are offenders in eyes of people residing in UK.
This makes whole Islam and Muslim community defaulter. There is negative image in mind of
people, so Islamic people are facing many issues at UK in getting daily requirement things
(Allen, 2016). They are discriminated at employment, education. Airport, politics, etc. because
of Islamophobia. For such community, media plays crucial role. British Media is the sector
which helps to get complete information about events which are happening n society. So in case
of Islamophobia British Media plays crucial role in creating awareness among people. There is
negative coverage about Islam Community, so this gives negative image of people residing in
society.
Background of research
In this research, there is discussion about concept of Islamophobia. This investigation
provides information about change in plans and policies which is specific for making attitude of
people residing in society. British media has negative reviews about Islam and Muslim
community because of Islamophobia, so they give negative views about them. This affects
behaviour of people for Islam community. In order to make clear understanding about changes in
better and relevant manner. With conducting this research, it is easy to create awareness among
people regarding Islamophobia to get knowledge about it. They are able to create their mindset
about Muslim and Islam community.
Rationale
Rationale behind choosing this topic and conducting research is this topic is relevant in
current market of UK. This helps to create awareness among readers to understand role of British
Media in forming attitude for Muslims and Islam. With studying about this topic, investigator is
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able to acknowledge it and hence it seems to be interesting for conducting research. In this
research, role of British Media in forming attitude is also studied, which is not covered earlier by
any one ease (Ahmed and Matthes, 2017). So scope of Islamophobia is wide for creating
awareness. This topic is related to Muslim Community and their terrorist attacks in UK, so whole
Islam and Muslims are known by Islamophobia. This topic is for researcher's interest because
they have interest in social and political aspects of UK.
Research Aim
Research is in- depth investigation about specific topic. Aims are setted by researcher to
conduct investigation and achieve them. These are the ways through which reader is
acknowledged about what is asked. Aim of this research is:
To study about Islamophobia in the UK and role of the British media in forming
attitudes towards Islam and Muslims.
Research Objectives
 To understand the concept of Islamophobia in the UK.
 To study the role of the British media towards Islamophobia in the UK.
 To determine the role of British Media in forming attitudes towards Islam and Muslims.
Research Questions
 Do you understand the concept of Islamophobia in the UK?
 What is the role of the British media towards Islamophobia in the UK?
 What is the role of British Media in forming attitudes towards Islam and Muslims?
Research framework
Research is long time process which includes different activities such as introduction,
literature review, etc. This makes proper framework and make research systematic. This is the
way which makes it easy for researcher to understand concepts which are considered while
conducting investigation (Sobolewska and Ali, 2015). This investigation consist of different
chapters as: Chapter 1 consist of introduction, in which overview, rationale, aims and objectives
are setted. Chapter 2 is about Literature Review. In this there is discussion about research aim as
per author's point of view. Chapter 3 is about research methodology which provides information
about tools and techniques considered while conducting research. Chapter 4 is about data
analysis. This is the section in which primary data is gathered and interpreted to provide
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recommendations and conclusions. At last chapter 5 is about conclusion and recommendations.
This is the section in which conclusions on the basis of primary and secondary data is provided
on Islamophobia and role of British Media.
Literature Review
Concept of Islamophobia in the UK
According to Mohamed Nawab Bin Mohamed Osman, (2013), the term Islamophobia
was first introduced in the year 1991 and was defined as the unfounded hostility towards
Muslims, and therefore become a reason of fear or dislike of all or most of the Muslim people.
The following term was used in context of Muslims in the UK particularly and in Europe the
following term was general. Islamophobia is an artificial fear and prejudice fomented by the
existing Eurocentric and Orientalist global power structure. Due to the increasing attacks and
terrorism from Muslims, the term Islamophobia was used for whole of the Muslim community.
Islamophobia reintroduces and reaffirms a global racial structure through which resource
distribution disparities are maintained and extended. In UK, the following term is expressed in
terms of feeling anxiety, fear hostility towards the Muslim Community. The following term is
important to explain because of the comparison with racism which has made to highlights the
similarities in between the functions and processes of Islamophobia. The definition provided also
helps in recognising the deep rooted nature of Islamophobia and therefore quite rightly has
support from Parliamentarians across party lines. It also criticised false or misleading news
stories that stoked mistrust or anger towards the Muslim community, which baselessly claims
orchestrated efforts are being made for Christmas to be suppressed or rebranded in an attack on
Christianity. So due to these issues the whole of the community was regarded with this name
Islamophobia. The concept of Islamophobia not only has the credibility due to the endorsement
of over 75 academics, but also has the community support with the endorsement of Muslim
organisations from a range of backgrounds including the representatives of hundreds of mosques
from different parts of the country.
Role of the British media towards Islamophobia in the UK
According to Shaima Hassan, (2018), it is not difficult to find out negative act about
Islam everywhere in the world. Almost every day, news headlines and newspaper associates
Muslims and Islam with violence and extremism. The concept of Islamophobia has taken
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fundamental socio-political significance in the West. Islamophobia is commonly interpreted as
unfounded fear, hostility and prejudice against Islam and Muslims. Historically, however,
criticism against Islam has existed since its formative period. The role of British Media towards
Islamophobia is of great importance. However, in spreading the information about the
Islamophobia, mostly in the negative way as have a big hand. But it is also right to some extent
as the many people were killed in the attacks made by Muslims terrorists. Due to these terrorists
activities, the whole of the Muslim community was targeted by the media and the role of British
Media in spreading this information to the people was completely made by them. In the
advertisements presented by British Media, it was included that Muslims are danger to liberal
and mainstream values. In addition to this, there are many evidences which makes clear that the
media has depicted and misrepresented Muslims to the wider society and have been largely
clouded with negative connotations, such as extremism, terrorism and fundamentalism. For
example, in UK, the leading newspapers and tabloids, like The Sun and The Independent, have
been under intense scrutiny for the immoderate and disproportionate mention of unlawful acts
committed by Muslims.
Role of British Media in forming attitudes towards Islam and Muslims
According to Diane Frost, (2019), The British Media do have a big hand in creating
negative image of the complete Muslim community in the mindset of the people and the outside
world. The following has been clear from the advertisements and information given by the
British Media to the people. However it is also true that due to some terrorist attacks which were
made by Muslims, UK and other countries have lost many lives of people of their countries. But
it is also wrong to discriminate the whole community due to the bad actions of few people. The
people of UK were highly influenced by the information provided by the British Media about the
Muslims and Islam and due to this, a feeling of anxiety and fear came into the minds of people.
The following incident also resulted in the discrimination of the whole Muslim community by
the people which was also wrong. The newspapers and advertisements have most of the
contribution in making the mindset of people wrong towards the whole of the Muslim
community. Their discrimination has increased to much extent as the British Muslims have the
lowest employment rates and earning nationally, and thus their chances of being offered a
promotion in the workplace is highly unlikely to happen and less in the comparison to a white
man or woman. Similarly, the rise of Islamophobia depictions depictions in media has resulted in
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growing of anti Muslim hate groups. The result of British Media's advertisement also resulted in
bullying against Muslim Students in the colleges also.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research is the in- depth and systematic work to enhance knowledge about change in
plans and policies. This makes easy to understand and collect knowledge about different aspects
of topic. In order to analyse and consider changes in better and effective manner, research
methodology is used (Ansari, 2018). This is the way which provides information about different
factors which are considered while conducting research. There is use of different tools and
techniques for conducting research which are discussed under research methodology. In order to
understand research methodology properly, “Research Onion” is the framework which is used to
collected appropriate information.
There are different techniques which are considered under “Research Onion”, some of
them are discussed under-
Research philosophy- Research philosophy refers to the way or belief of manner through
which information about research topic is collected. This is the way which makes it easy to
understand reason behind changes in better and effective manner. There are different types of
philosophy such as pragmatist, interpretivism, positivist, epistemological, etc. In this research
epistemological philosophy is used. This is the branch of philosophy which provides information
about source of knowledge. This assist in providing information about different limitations,
possibilities and nature of Islamophobia and role of British media.
Research design-There is an specific format in which investigation is conducted and
presented. This is the way through which learner is able to understand knowledge about topic
properly and able to understand research in appropriate manner. There are different types of
research design such as descriptive, exploratory, experimental (Bleich and et. al., 2015). In this
research descriptive is used. This is the best way to provide collect information from starting to
end of research. Reader is able to understand about topic in complete and absolute manner.
Research approach- Research approach is the way of planned step by step ways of broad
assumptions while conducting investigation. Research is long time process, so some assumptions
are followed which provides information about method of collecting information, analysis and
interpretation. There are two methods of research approach i.e. inductive and deductive. In this
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research deductive method is used because this focus on relevant and important information.
This makes to avoid less important components while conducting investigation.
Research method- There is a specific method under which research is conducted. This
makes research systematic and specified in appropriate manner. There are two methods of
conducting research i.e. qualitative and quantitative research (Morgan, 2016).
Qualitative research refers to the scientific method of collecting information about
Islamophobia. With using this method, it is easy for research to focus on “Why” rather than
“What”, so reader is able to understand reason behind specific opinion on topic. This method is
more structured and justified as compared to quantitative method.
As per quantitative method, this is the way through which systematic investigation about
Islamophobia can be collected with quantification of data with statistical and mathematical tools.
This method is complex and can be understood by expert or knowledgable person. In this
method, information is collected from larger number of people from entire population.
In this research, qualitative method is used because in this method, information is
collected in the form of graphical representation, so it is easy to understood for reader.
Collection of data- Research on Islamophobia can be reliable and authentic when it
provides justification through opinion of respondents. So information is collected from some
different sources to enhance knowledge about it. There are two sources of information i.e.
primary and secondary source.
Primary source refers to the information which is collected from individuals by one to
one interaction. This is the most appropriate way to collect information because this provides
data by contacting personally with individuals. This information is fresh and relevant.
Questionnaire is used to collect primary information from respondents. This is the way in which
some questions related to topic Islamophobia (Brown and Saeed, 2015).
While secondary information is collected from online sources, newspaper, magazines,
books, journals, etc. With using this method, overall idea about research can be collected which
enhance base to getting knowledge about Islamophobia and role of British Media.
In this research both the methods are used. With using both the method, it is easy for
investigator to collect information in better way which assist in providing recommendations and
conclusion on Islamophobia.
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Research sampling- While collecting primary data it is not possible for research to take
view from whole population, so some number of candidates are selected from whom information
is collected. This is known as sampling. Sampling is the way to get brief overview about opinion
of whole population (Garner and Selod, 2015). There are two methods of collecting sample i.e.
random and non random sampling. Random sampling is used in this research. As per this
method, respondents are selected randomly. This reduces possibilities of biasness and
information is fresh and authentic. In this research 30 respondents are selected who resides in
London and have knowledge about Islamophobia.
Research budget- There is requirement of different sources for successful completion of
research such as internet connection, computer system, telephone services, etc. So there is
requirement of some specific amount of money for availing such resources. This investigation
requires cost of around £550.
Time horizon- Ion this investigation, there are different activities which has to be
followed such as introduction, setting aims and objectives, literature review, etc. So this requires
time to successfully completion for various research actions (Hellwig and Sinno, 2017). Time
required to conduct the research can be analysed with the help of Gantt Chart. Gantt Chart is the
pictorial description about research activities along with their time. This makes investigator and
team mates aware about which activity has to perform after what. This also assist in knowing
synchronisation of actions of investigation.
Resource availability- There is requirement of tangible as well as non tangible resources
such are stationary, financial resources, expertise knowledge, etc. These resources are available
to investigator so they are able to complete research by achieving aims and objectives (Grillo,
2016).
ETHICAL ISSUES
There are some ethical aspects which has to be considered by researcher while
conducting research. Main ethical aspects which has to be considered as ethical aspects are
consent, anonymity and confidentiality. While conducting research, information is collected
from different sources so it is important to collect information from authentic source.
Questionnaire is used to collect primary information, hence consent of respondents are clear and
reliable. But while gathering information from secondary data, there is issue because information
is not available easily. This affects time for collecting information and interpreting it.
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Confidentiality is the factor which is important to consider in research. Information
collected for the purpose of research is used for this purpose also. There is issue of data gathering
because respondent are not ready to revert back through it (Modood, 2016). This is because of
language barrier and they have fear about loosing their identify through questionnaire. Legal
aspect which has to be followed while conducting research such as tools and techniques, data
collection strategies, etc. There is lack of time, so proper time is settled for each activity which
makes them understand how to proceed for next action. Social values of respondents are
considered while conducting research and collecting data from them.
There are some consequences arise while conducting research such as lack of planning
and guidance. In order to deal with it, there is searches makes self managed team and provide
specific dates for communication, so everyone is aware about progress rate of investigation.
Different activities are assigned to individuals but due to lack of communication technique, there
are some activities which are performed twice (Moosavi, 2015). There is no authorised person
for documentation of research work. This is the major issue which arise while performing
research activities. So team mates finalise to manage and record their performance their own.
When they meet, then synchronisation among activities of team mates is analysed. While
collecting primary information, team mates are not able to make clear to respondents reason of
collecting information, so this affects their mindset for giving overview about topic. So meeting
is fixed to acknowledge them how to collect data from candidates. This assist in getting opinion
through primary sources.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Allen, C., 2016. Islamophobia. Routledge.
Ahmed, S. and Matthes, J., 2017. Media representation of Muslims and Islam from 2000 to 2015:
A meta-analysis. International Communication Gazette. 79(3). pp.219-244.
Sobolewska, M. and Ali, S., 2015. Who speaks for Muslims? The role of the press in the creation
and reporting of Muslim public opinion polls in the aftermath of London bombings in
July 2005. Ethnicities. 15(5). pp.675-695.
Ansari, H., 2018. " The infidel within": Muslims in Britain since 1800. Oxford University Press.
Bleich, E. and et. al., 2015. Media portrayals of minorities: Muslims in British newspaper
headlines, 2001–2012. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies. 41(6). pp.942-962.'
Morgan, G., 2016. Global Islamophobia: Muslims and moral panic in the West. Routledge.
Brown, K. E. and Saeed, T., 2015. Radicalization and counter-radicalization at British
universities: Muslim encounters and alternatives. Ethnic and Racial Studies. 38(11).
pp.1952-1968.
Grillo, R., 2016. Muslim families, politics and the law: A legal industry in multicultural Britain.
Routledge.
Hellwig, T. and Sinno, A., 2017. Different groups, different threats: public attitudes towards
immigrants. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies. 43(3). pp.339-358.
Garner, S. and Selod, S., 2015. The racialization of Muslims: Empirical studies of Islamophobia.
Critical Sociology. 41(1). pp.9-19.
Modood, T., 2016. Muslims, Religious Equality and Secularism 1. In Contesting Secularism (pp.
69-86). Routledge.
Moosavi, L., 2015. Orientalism at home: Islamophobia in the representations of Islam and
Muslims by the New Labour Government. Ethnicities. 15(5). pp.652-674.
McGilloway, A., Ghosh, P. and Bhui, K., 2015. A systematic review of pathways to and
processes associated with radicalization and extremism amongst Muslims in Western
societies. International review of psychiatry. 27(1). pp.39-50.
Mac an Ghaill, M. and Haywood, C., 2015. British-born Pakistani and Bangladeshi young men:
Exploring unstable concepts of Muslim, Islamophobia and racialization. Critical
Sociology. 41(1). pp.97-114.
McEnery, T., McGlashan, M. and Love, R., 2015. Press and social media reaction to
ideologically inspired murder: The case of Lee Rigby. Discourse & Communication.
9(2). pp.237-259.
Online
Hassan, S., 2018. Islamophobia and media stigma is having real effects on Muslim mothers in
maternity services. [Online]. Available Through:
<https://theconversation.com/islamophobia-and-media-stigma-is-having-real-effects-on-
muslim-mothers-in-maternity-services-101768>
Osman, M.N.B.M., 2013. Islamophobia Studies Journal. [Online]. Available Through:
<http://www.plutojournals.com/islamophobia/>
Frost, D., 2019. Islamophobia: examining causal links between the media and “race hate” from
“below”. [Online]. Available Through:
<https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/01443330810915251fullSc=1&journ
alCode=ijssp>
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